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EARLY HISTORY 

OF FRONTIER COUNTY 
NEBRASKA 

BY W. H. MILES and JOHN BRATT 



WITH PDEMS BY BOYD PERKIN 



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EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 
OF 
FRONTIER COUNTY 
NEBRASKA 

By 

W. H. MILES 

and 

JOHN BRATT, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA 

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
OF FRONTIER COUNTY 

BY A SUBSCRIBER 

Published by 
BOYD PERKIN 
Majnvood, Nebr. 

Previous Publications by 

N. H. BOGUE, Editor of THE EAGLE 
Maywood. Nebraska, A. D. 1894 
and 
W. H. BARTON in THE EAGLE-REPORTER, in 1911 
PRICE ?1 (Six Copies for $5) 



EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 



^'Ins^ 



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HOMJ: IN THJf Wi;ST 

Give me a home out in the West, 
Where the softest breezes blow; 

Among the fields of golden grain — 
It is there that I would go. 

Cmi the wide prairie let me live, 
In the saddle there to roam; 

Tour walls leave little space indeed 
For a man lo call his home. 

Lst me live beneath the heaveas' blue; 

Yes, give me tlie rain-filled clouds. 
Crimson glory of sunset skies — 

Away from the city's crowds. 

— Boyd Perkin. 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



PREFACE 

"Early History and Reniiniscence of Ftontier County, Neb." 
was publislied in the Eagle by N. H. Bogue in 1894 and again in the 
Eagtle-Reporter in 1911 by W. H. Barton.. 

As only a few of the original copies were printed in booklet 
form and it is now, almost impossible to obtain one, I thought it 
would be a service, and might, as it has to me, a source of in- 
spiration to old settlers and others interested in the tales of the 
pioneers, so with the permission of the Editor of the Eagle-Reporter 
I decided to have copies published. 

BOYD PERKIN. 



FOREWORD 

With appreciation oif courtesy from , the editor of Studio News 
Magazine, iu which "Mammoth" and other poems included in this 
book were first published. 

The author of "Mammoth and Other Poems," Boyd Perkin, pre- 
sents his first work in book form. We find his poems and writings of 
excellent type, that will be beneficial to readers. He has written 
Stories, Poetry and Songs. His latest songs: "On Irish Linen" 
whosie words were written with the help of the Editor of Studio 
News and melody by Jimmy Crane has been published and with 
"When Autumn Turns The Leaves to Gold and Crimson" which was 
written in collaboration with Annie Peltokaagas, who also com- 
posed the music has been broadcast over K.O.D.Y. 

"Mammoth And Other Poems" are wiitten thoughtfully aoid sin- 
cerely. 

We highly recommend this book in the literary field. May It 
help you along life's pathway. 

LETA S. BENDER, 
Editor Studio News, 
Friend, Nebr, 



EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 



stis^)^<!iiMsdmmmsi^mmjmmmsf^mmjmmm^]mm^mimsii' 


1 




1 




9 




f 




1 




9 




1 


"BUD" 


1 




ra 




^ The frost 


lies on the ground, Bud — 


JM A whiteness everywhere; 


1 The sky is 
1 A chiilii 


dark and gloomy, 


less in the air. 


1 




P The birds 


h.ave all gone South, Bud, 


H Where 
m And chere 


skies are blue and fair; 


comes now no music 


1 From trees so lone and bare. 
1 


1 




1 The years 
M And sm 


lie on my head. Bud, 


)w-white is my hair; 


m My iriend 


s have all departed — 


Wl I've none with whom to share. 


m They say 


there isi a land. Bud, 


m Where 
M And there 


there is no more care 
v/ill be no parting; 


m III meet the loved ones there. 


1 


— Boyd Ferkin. 


1 




1 





FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



A HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SKETCH 
OF NEBRASKA 

On the first day oi March, 1867, Nebraska was admittod into the 
Union. Through the mist O'f years tlhe chronology of Nebraska 
has been handed down, tinged with romanice as weJl as the sterner 
realities. The name itself possesses a mysterious charm. Young 
men who comiprise the bone and sinew of the young State's 1,000,000 
inhabitants have taken the lanJ as thely fomid it with scarcely an 
inquirly as to its origin. Misfortunes are long remembered. Per- 
liaps they have a faint recollection of an Eastern home where kind 
friends busied themseives in providing things needed in a lan^i 
sorely stricken with the plague of Egypt. Even youth bom within 
Nebraska borders and educated in its boasted institutions of learn- 
ing may have glanced at its history only hurriedly. 

It is believed that over all this vast regtion once rested, an im- 
mense lake, compared to wliich Lfike Superior is a mere pond. 
Over the bottom of this lake were spread, through the changln,? 
scones of time, lacustrine deposits of soil five to two hundred feet 
deep. A smiall area on the north side of the State seems to have 
emerged first, for the soil is entirely gone fnom it. But it must 
have been at one time a tropic isle of man^elous luxuriance of vege- 
table and animal life. In the hardened clay of its low hiills are to 
be found vast numlbers of fossil animails that have no existence 
outside the tropics. Heire were Immense numbers of rhinoceroses, 
homed and hoimless, some with two horns, and others with none. 
Here rang'ed the hippopotami and vast herds of carnivorous ani- 
mals; here are found petrified turtles, onei specimen perfeictly Pre- 
served, being seven feet across. "It requires but little imagina- 
tion," says Bishop Warren, "to cover the region of the mouth of 
the Niobrara with abundant forests through which meandered great 
rivers full of huge animals, while chattered the monkey, and flew 
the goigeous bird of paradise above them." 



EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 



MAMMOTH 

What picture shall we paint from '.hese iiuge bores, 

A Mammoth of the Pleocene age? 

Vainly we'll ask the artist or the sage 

Unless the poet's gift he freely owns: 

For only poets truly can portray 

That ancient beast in colors for Today. 

Who else con place a heart inl that huge frame 

And 'round these naked bones a robe array? 

Can others set that ancient heart aflame, 

That it again may trumpet forth itS) love 

For the vast herd now gathered far above? 

— Boyd Perkin. 

After\fard! the surrounding country, covered with the richest 
soil, arose above the water; the climate grew more so^'ere, and the 
tropical animals and birds gave place to those of a colder climate. 
One rac^ of men lived here and disappeared; another took their 
place, but they have passed away, leaving but little trace o: their 
existence; a third, now known ais tihe Indian, luxuriated in the 
abundant meat of the buffalo, but they are being pushed rapidly orf 
the stage of time, and their labors will be as extinct as the two races 
that have sunk beneath these waves of land, "unwept, unhonored 
and unsuni^." 

Nebraska was a part of the large unexplored country that was 
claimed by La Salle for the King of France and named Louisiana. 
It was said to be full of mines and richer in ingots than Peru- 
John C . Fremont crossed its borders and opened up a new world, 
California gold hunters made a lasting path through its waving 
prairie®, and the old trail made by the Mormons on their weary 
inarch to the city of siinis is not yet obliterated. The origin of 
Nebraska had great influence upon the fate of our nation. The 
pasisiage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, in 1854, tbrew open the ter- 
ritory to slavery, gave birth to a party that was made up of Whigs, 
anitisiliavery Deimocrats and free-sailers, known at first as ajuti-N'^- 
braska men and later as Republicans. The antisdavery branch of 
the know-nothing party oippoised the exltensiO'O of slavery. Thus 
did Nebraska, in its infano , figure in political historj'. 

Nebraska being a portion of the Louisiana territory, divisions 
were made from time to time, resulting in the formation of Mis- 



FRONTIER ( OUNTY, NEBRASKA 



pouri and Arkansas, between 1804 and 1854. In tihe latter year the 
Kansas-Nebraska bill became a law and defined Nebraska as that 
territory between 40 deigrees and 49 degrees north latitude, the 
Missouri River on the east and liic^ Rocky Mountains on the west. 
In 1863, the year before the question of statehood arose, the final 
boundaries were estaibished . The enabling- act iwas palssed by Con- 
gress and aipiproved April 22, 186r. 

The bill gave Nebraska one representative in Congress, an-l 
srianted large tracts of public laads for the purpose of endowing 
oollegfs and erecting public buildings necessary in forming a seat 
of government. It gave the people the right to formulate a consti- 
tution and that Avas to prohibit slavery. In 1866 the Territorial 
Legislatere met and submitted a constitution to the popular vote; 
in June '66 the vote was cast, and declared accepted by a small ma- 
jority. This constitution was submitted to Congress with the hopa 
of gaining admission. 

An attempt was made to ingraft a clause prohibiting discrim- 
i^iation on account of color. Tho biU was passed without that 
clause, but the measure was not signed by President Johnson, and 
did not become a law at that sessjon; but when the next Congress 
asisembled the measure was again called up before that body and 
passed . President Johnson vetoed' the bill on January- 29, 1867, and 
on Febinmiry 8th it was taken up in the Senate and passed over the 
Presidfent's veto by a vote of 120 to 4S amid great npplause from 
the floor and galleries'. 

The legislature was called in special session on February 20, 
1867, by the tenritorial governor, Alivin Sanders, for the purpose of 
talcing action upon the conditions imposed toy Congress. The gov- 
ernor went before the legislature and presented a brief message in- 
forming that body that the constitution adopted by the people of 
the territorH- in June, 1866, restricted the elective franchise to 
"wliite male citizens." The condition imposed by Congress was 
that "this act shall not take effect except upon the fundamental 
condition that within the State of Nebraska tiiere shiall be no denial 
of the elective franchise, or of any other right, to anij- person by 
reason of race or color, excepting Indians cot taxed." The joiut 
convention adjourned and the Senate at once pasBed a biJI assent- 
ing to the act of Congress admitting Nebraska into the Union. The 
House concunred immediately, and President Johnson issued his 



EARLY HISTORY AND R.^MIN1SCENCF 



procliamation announcing the admission of Nebraska into the union 
of States on March 1, 1>;67. 

Geographically considered, the territory comprising the scene 
of our following Historj' and Reminiscence, of local interest, is two 
hundred and twenty-five miles Wcst of the Missouri river, seventy, 
two miles from Colorado and in the second tier of counties north 
from Kansas. It is in latitude 40 degrees 30 miinutes, and in longi- 
tude 23 degrees west from Washington, the area of which is about 
the size of the state of Rihode Island. 



EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 
OF 
FRONTIER COUNTY 

BY W. H. MILES 

Ho' Brothers, come hitJier and listen to my story, 

Merry and brief will the narrative be; 
Here, like a mon.irch, I rei^n in my glory; 

Master am I, boys, of all that I see. 
Where once frowned a forest .i garden is smiling, 

The meadow and moorland are marshes no more; 
And there curls the smoke of my cottage beguiling 

The children who cluster like grapes at the door. 
Then enter, boys; cheerily, boys, enter and rest; 

The land of the heart is the la.id of the West. 

Well, boys, I am going to follow my trail back to 1870, when I 
came into the Medicine Valley — and the true ifacts are in store tor 
you. It is rather a lonely trip, as I am left lalone: a part of my 
companions then have long since gone to that far away hiinting 
ground, while the others, like the Arab, have folded their tents 
and silently stolen away. 

The finst settlers in the Medicine Valley found no exception to 
the numerous hardships endured by pioneers of other portions of 
1he Great West. To settle down in this wild country, tht near8.st 
habitation being Forit McPheirsou, fifty mile.^ away, not a road, 
bridge or church to guide the weary traveler, who was exposed to 
heat and cold, rain and drouth, lawless 'bands of white men, Indi- 
ans and grasshoppers; to tranp down tfhe prickly pears and kill the 



FRONTIER COUNTY. NEBRASKA 



rattlesnakes, hunt the elk aiid buffalo, haul the meat to the fort 
and trade it for supplies— was not as romantic as some may think. 
Yet pleasures were strewn along the weird scenes that would ap- 
pear upon our horizon and pass away like the morning dew. We 
were free from the banker, lawyei*, doctor and mortgages; we had 
no church quarrels, no grades in society or wealth; no parties or 
politics; all worked together a-nd shared ailike. 

The first settlers here had passed over this territory on a trip 
through the west but found no place as good or inviting as the 
Aledicine Vailley. Here the Indian ponies were fat and could run all 
day with no feed but the buffalo grass. I did not know then that 
this would become an agricultural land, but t'lought it the best 
stock country in the world. Daily hundreds of fat buffalos, deer, 
elks, antelopes and wild horses came down to the Medicine creek 
to drink. Wild tuirkeys were numerous; the trees would be black 
with them when they went to roost, but they were soon killed or 
diiven away. 



BUFFALO CREED 

For me these canyons nnd these tow'ring hills 

And rushing streams have romance and a charm 

I deem them riches that the brave man wills should be^; 

More precious far than any golden vein 

Of storied lore where men h.ive fougiil in vain. 

Their fleeting earthly treasure and brief fame, 

K.is perished long ago, but here the name 

Of valiant scout an/d rugged pioneer, 

Are fresh in memory and it will remain, 

Verdant as growing fieldsi. The golden grain 

Is but a symbol of the trust and faith 

That tried beyond the years can still behold 

The Westeir. vision glimpsed by prophets old. 



— Boyd Perkin. 



10 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCKNTCF. 

FIRST CHRISTMAS 

The Indians that canjped on the Medicine in 1870 were Whistlers 
Band, tiiat had been cut off from the tritbe of Spotted Tail, t!ie biy 
Sioux chief. HanJc and Montie Clifford and John Nelson were with 
the^n and had Indian families; W. H. Miles found them, built a 
ismoke-house, dried buffalo meat ^and trapped during the winter. 
Also, the writer took a homestead, the first in the terrifory now- 
comprising Frontier County. 

We killed the buffalos, and he squaws tanned the robes, un- 
til we had ten thousand pounds o: meat and a thousand tongues 
dried, that we expected to ship East. 

But, alas! a shadow came o^er the spirit of o.jr dreams of 
wealth, in the shape of sixty Indians that came down to spend the 
winter with us, which they did. The meat and tongues went 1o 
entertain our guests. 

We preipared for a "big timo" on Christmas; so ClilTard went 
into town and brought out some "fixin's" ^such as currants, sugar, 
etc.; last but not least, a keg of whiskey, of which Indians and all 
indulged freely. The Indians had a war dance which came very 
near to a "killing off,"' but we had a good time all the same. 

The Indians said they would celebrate Christmas too, by killing 
and eating all the dogs in the village. I hiad a fine dog and told 
them to spare him; but the first thing I saiw Christmas morning 
was poor Dodge roasting on the fire. There were ten dogs eaten 
at the first Christmas celeoration in Frontier County. 

Mr. John Bratt, the iiattle king of Nebraska, came over from 
the Platte and proposed to organize a county. We favoie'd the pro- 
position, but our population was so numerically small we hadn't 
enough bo fill the offices. There being four of us, I was the only 
one but what belonged to the Sio'JX Indians in the territory of .he 
proposed county. Mr. Bratt, being a man of indomitable will, did 
not intend that the want of a few men should hinder the organiza- 
tion at that time. 

It scarcely seems twenty-two years ago when a few of us got 
together and determined to organi'.e the county of Frontier, at that 
time the home and paradise of the buffalo and the Indian. I had 
already consulted with Montie and Hank Clifford, who were at thai 
time living in teepees with their squaws, papooses and Indian re- 
lations, near Coon Creek; also with that nature's nobleman, the 
whole-souled, generous hearted Sam Watts, W. H. Miles and a 



FRONTIER COUNTY. NEJ2RA3ivA 11 

tew others, as to the boundary ol the county, location and namo 
of the county seat, Stockville, and who the county officials should 
be. These matters decided, we went to woak with a will, and con- 
siderable expense; succeeded in getting an act passed by the le'.?- 
islature, which was approved Jar.uary 17, 1872, by Wm. H. James, 
then acting governor and Secre ary of State, bounding the county 
of Frontier, whose organization was entrusted and commissions is- 
sued to Levi Carter, my partne S as county treasurer; John Kirby. 
clerk; Hank Clifford, sheriff; E v>. Nesbitt, saiperintendont of pub- 
lic instruction; Samuel F. Watts, judge; A. S. Shelly, coroner; 
.Sanies Kerr, assessor; John Y. Nelson, surveyor; W. H. Miles, Monte 
Clifford and your humble scribe,, commissioners. 

Well do I remember startiug out from Ft. McFiierson at b'e- 
tween eleven and twelve o'clock on a bitter cold night in January, 
1872, the day prior to our organization set by law, in company 
with John Kirby, whom I had to take before a justice of the 
l^eace, E. E. Erickson, to have swJrn into the office of clerk, before 
starting. 

We were both m.ounted on two slippery shod horses; the ground 
being partially covered with ice and snow made the trip from 
Ft. McPhenson to our ranch, at the head of Fox Creek, anything but 
pleasant, especially to a man of Mr. Kirhy's size, an inexperienced 
lider as he was. His horse, though I had given him the best on(!, 
persisted in falling down on the ice, and it was only by coaxing that 
I got him to finish tiie journey to Fox Creeik Ranch, where we 
arrived shortly ibefore daybreak and where I had is«nt, the day previ- 
ous, a team with the county books, blanks, commissions, etc., in 
care of Jones and Kerr, two of our men, who were appointed to 
fill twc of the offices. 

After partaking of a hasty breakfast consisting of biscuits, buf- 
falo meat and coffee, Kirby and I started in a light rig with the 
box of books, etc., followed by Kerr and Jones on horseback, 
en route for Hank Clifford's tepee on Coon Oreek. At this time 
there was not much of a road between Pox Creek and the Medi- 
cine, east of Curtis Creek, and it usuallly required the skill of a 
careful driver, even with a gentle team, to go through the breaks 
of Fox and Curtis creeks without upsetting. 

Before leaving Fox Creek Ranch, I had put in the team a 
green Texas horse that had scarcely ever seen a rig, say nothing 
about pulling one. It took four of us to hitch him up; but once 
started, after kicking, rearing and plunging for about a mile, he 



22 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 

sobered down to his share of the work, but w^as far from being 
bridlewise. 

We had got safely out of the second canyon oast of Fox 
Creek, and had stopped preparatariy to d,>eiscending a steep hill 
leading into another canyon, when I insisted that Kirby should gee 
out, to which he strenuously objected, remarking that he dared ro 
ride where I node. The hill was long and very steep, some parts 
of it covered with ice, especially at and near the top; other parts cf 
the buffa/lo trail we were following were covered with snow. The 
morning was bright but stinging cold with a sharp wind blowing. 

I hesitated some time, surveying my intended route down the 
hill before starting, having a lack of faith in the Texas side 
of our teajn when and Avhere careful driving was needed to got 
us over bad places without accident, since our Texas horse, in the 
short distance we had come, had indicated a very strong desire to 
go one way while I woald endeavor to persuade him to go anothe-'. 
This caused me to insist and then beg of Kirby, who was an old 
Missourian and knew no fear, to get out, telling him at the same 
time we were liable to upset. 

But it was no use; might as well talk to a stone. After taking a 
big drink out of a suspicious-looking canteen, he gave orders la 
''let her go," and I obeyed, using all the precaution I possibly 
could. We had proceeded but a little way down the hill when our 
horses lost their footing, and the wagon likewise. The dashboarJ 
-,vais on my )i©ck, and both horses; especially my Texas friend was 
making a target of my head with his hind feet. Fortunately I held 
onto the reins and, after being dragged under the buggy about two 
hundred yards, I was finally extricated by Kerr and Jones. 

Alas! poor Kirby lay groaning where he had fallen, the box 
of books having rolled down the hill some distance from him. 
We v/ere sorry to find Mr. Klrby's arm broken in two places, and 
collar bone fractured. The only words we succeeded in getting from 
him were: 

"Let me die right here." 

As soon as we could fix up the breakages en the wagon and 
tongue, we lifred poor Kirby into it, much against his protests, 
and I led the team back to Fox Creek Ranch. Here we laid him 
carefully on the bed, at which I knelt while he swore me into office 
of county commissioner, and I If ft him in care of three of our mou 
with orders to take him to Ft. McPherson as quick as they couU 
and as easy as possible. 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 13 

This done, I again started wiih that team and that box, with 
which I arrived at Hank Clifford's Indian lodge, near Coon Creek, 
at nearly six o'clock that night. Here our would-be co^unty dads 
bad assembled and were impatiently awaiting my arrival. It was 
tut a few moments before our box was opened, the officers sworn 
in, the commissions distributed. But lo! when we came to sign 
our names we had neither ink, p n nor pencil. Necessity, the 
mother of invention, came to our rescue. A istick was sharpened, 
some soot scraped from the teepee poles, out names signed — the 
organization of Frontier County was complete. 

Returning to Fox Creek Ranch the following day, I was almost 
paraliyized to find my friend Kirby yet on the bed where I had laij 
him, his arm and shoulder swollen to an enormous size. He had 
a six-shooter by his side and threatened to ehoot the first man 
that disturbed him. I took the revolver away from him unnoticed. 
Meantime I had our men prepare a wagon with hay and quilts, 
into which it took six of us to handle and lay him. We got him 
into the hospital at Ft. McPherson about three o'clock the r.ext 
morning, whore Dr. Elbery, one of the most efficient of army sur- 
geons, attended him and I am pleased to say saved his liie, which 
for some years afterward was devoted to the interests of your 
county. Kirby finally went back to Missouri, where he died. Finis. 

CONTINUED BY W. H. MILES 

We went on each other s bonds; and as the whole population 
of the new county was in bond to protect its interests, the new 
organization was a success under the watchful elyies of Judge Watts 
and Commissioner Bratt. 

FIRST FARMING 

The first farming in the county was a failure. We planted 
some squaw corn and pumpkin seed, which soon gave promise cf 
good returns for time and labor bestowed. But one nDominj; we 
heard bellowing in the field. We gathered our cartridge belts' anl 
guns, then went to see Avhat the intruder was. 

Abou* one thousand buffalos had taken possession of our 
field. We protested with a vengeance and brought down fifteen of 
those lordly ibrutes of the plains, but the entire crop of Frontier 
Cowity was tramped out of sight or that year. The squaws came 
out, butchered our game, and a feast followed the loss of our crop. 



14 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 

I FIRST HERD OF CATTLE 

John Bratt built a ranch neir where Curtis is now, one at 
Medicine Lake and one on Fox Creek, and brought in tlie first herd 
of cattle, which numbered many tJiousand head. Cattle were sold, 
beef-fat off the nutritious buffalo grass, with no care oi expense but 
rounding uip and branding. Every ranch stood open to all that 
came, s^o hospitable and frfee-hearted were those pioneers. The coo'k 
would "rustle" up a good meal, and when it was ready he would 
sing out, "Grub pile!" And when the meal was over, all would 
«it around the fire, tell stories, sing songs until tjred out, then 
sleep, perchance dream o;' the loved ones and thedr homes far 
away, that they had not seen for many long, weary years. 
INDIAN OUTBREAK 

In 1871 there came very; near being an Indian outbreak on 
the Medicine. Chief Whistler and two of his braves started for 
Ft. McPherson. While in camip, preparing some food they were 
discovered by three white men who were passing through and shot 
them in the back. Then the bodies were taken and thrown in a 
canyon. It was several days before they were found. During this 
time the cowardly murderers had fled from the country, "he ui- 
Limian act so enraged the Indians that they would ha\'^ killed all 
of VLB for revenge on the white people, had it not been for the great 
influence Hank Clifford held over thorn. 

BUILD COURT-HOUSE 

After the organization of the county, Ave concluded to give uo 
hunting and go to farming. We were in doubt yet whether it woull 
i:ay or not, but determinea to tiy; and in taking this initiatoiy step 
toward civilization we selected tiie present site of Stock ville (that 
being near the center of the county) in 1872. Then we set a day 
on which all turned out and began the erection of a court-house six- 
teen feet square, built of logs, which was soon completed and was 
furnished with the coimty records. It was also the first hous? 
erected in the county of Frontier. 

We worked early and late, building bridges, houses and putting 
out a crop. Clifford and I sent back East and had •'^ dozen chickens 
shipped out, which cost us sevonty-five cents each. They were a 
wonder to the natives, who came from far and near to see them. 

FIRST WHITE WOMEN 

We had made such a wonderful stride toward civilization that 
I wrote back to Florida for my father, mother and sister to come 



FRONtlLR COUNTY, NEBRASKA " IT. 

here. They arrived on March 12, 1872, my mother and sister being 
the fir&t white women in the county. After a long ride across the 
wild, roadless country, over level divides and through Ions: can- 
yons, from Fort McPherson, we came to the Medicine and went 
into camp. Mother said: 

"The last link is broken in the chain of civilization." 
A flock of antelopes stood on a hill near by and watched us 
while we busied ourselvef? picketing out our horses and gathering 
up wood for our camp-fire. Welk Snell got supper in true frontier 
style in the fiar West. Snow-drifts, remnants of the past hard 
winter, yet lay at the head of canyons, white and cold; the buffalo 
and wolves serenaded us with their various notes of weird cadenc- 
es; a flock of geese passed over us, winging their waiy noirth, added 
to the unbounded solitude. Ihus the introductory scenes of life in 
the Wild West were thrown upon the minds of those pioneer ladies 
to institute a comparison and contrast with their old home in the 
far-away "Land of Flowers." 

FIRST SHEEP 

During the summeir of 1872 a few "prairie schooners" came in, 
laden with men and their familios in search of a place to take up 
their abode and make a home. A Mr. Lewis was the first to bring 
in a flock of sheep, which was a picnic for the wolves. James Kibben 
and Judge S. P. Baker each broUf?ht in a herd of fine cattle in the 
summer of 1872. Also, John Lockwood, Andrew Webb, R. A. Mc- 
Knight, George Carol hers, Ed Bovey, Herman Doing, J. R. Britting- 
ham, A. S. Shelly, Orville Works, Jerome Dauchey, J. A. Lynch, 
Henry Miller; James, John and Sam'l GkimmiM; W. H. Allen, Wm. 
Black and W. L. McClary — all settled on the Medicine and success- 
fully played their parts in the «;arly historical drama of the county. 

FIRST WHITE CHILD 

John Sanders was among the front rank that came in to earn 
a fortune in a new country, and built the first flour mill in the 
county, on the Medicine near Stockville. To Mr. and Mrs. John 
Sanders was born the first white child, a daughter, tkfit Is re- 
corded in Fronjtier. 

Wm. Nolan, J. M. Noyes, E. S. Childs and John Waits took 
claims in the southeastern pait of the county and had borne their 
part of the burden in ti^arhpiug out the cactus, turning over the 
buffalo sod and making our county bloom like the rose. 



16 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 

FIRST PREACHER 
Reverend Shirvirsgton, the first preacher to take up his abode 
here, staked out a claim on Fox Creek; John Miller outlined a ranon 
on Brush Creek and was a "Robinson Crusoe" for some time; VV. 
G. Warner, who brought in a he'd of fine cattle from Iowa, settled 
permanently on the Brushy; did and Abe Barry purchased and 
located on a ranch that John Bratt built, on Curtis Cr<_-ek All 
aided in opening the way for the great flood of emigration which 
soon followed and took up the government land. 

A DAY liN JUNE 

I thimk, of all the year, a d.iy in June 
Is sweetest: honeysuckle fills the air, 
With the wild roses blushing everywhere; 
Listenirg to the golden chimii.g tune 
Of wedding bells; a moon is s)ending down 
Its mellcw rays upon the prairie; soon 
Strumming guitars a.nd men's voices resound 
To spread rhcir joyful romance all around 
As care-free, happy cowbows softly croon 
A welcome tc the one in wedding gown. 

— Boyd Perkin. 

THE FIRST WEDDING 

The first wedding in the county was at the ranch of W. H 
Miles on June 4> 1873. The happy pairties were Andy Barrer. and 
Mrs. Nancy Wheatly. both half India«js. It was a girand social af. 
fair attended by ranchers, cow*boys and Indians. 

Andy Barret had been captured, when a child, by Mormon emi- 
grants and taken west, where he became one of the best ropers 
and horse trainers of th'^ Rocky Mountains. After twenty years 
he came back to the Sioux here in search of his mother, but slie 
had long since go«e to the happy hunting grounds. 

We did all possible to make his nuptlad feast a socd'al success. 
After con^atulations Juidige Watts wished them "that their livos 
would be one sea of happiness, t lat the white wings of lo-ve and 
peace would fa^n away every ti'oubled thought, th:it their path 
through life be ever strewn mth fairest flowers." 

The wish never came to pass. An Indian had a dream that li3 
must kill the first person he met; if not, he would never get to the 
happy hunting grounds in the hereafter. By chance he met Andy 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 17 

Barret and shot him dead. Mrs. Barret was lost on the plains aad 
died. Thus ended the eajthly pilgrimage of the contracting parties 
to the first marriage in the county of Frontier. 

FIRST LAWYER 

The first lawyer that vtmtured out in the misty dim on a sea 
of doulbt as to what the future would bring forth on the frontier to 
a disicipQe of Blaicfesitone was E. T . Jay, who took a claim in the 
eastern part of the county, on the Muddy. His professional Berv- 
Ices were seldom needfed, as most men in those days here settled 
disputes before the cases were worn out, by the ravages of time, 
jn the courts. 

Mr. Jay was a counselor in the firsit case at law in this county, 
which was brought about by the hard winter of 1S78 and '79. T!ie 
weather was unusually severe; hard storms and blizzardsi raged at 
intervals. During tl:e season a deep snow fell and covered the 
grasa^ so the stock suffered greatly. A big percentage of stock 
was lost by most of the cattlemen. Large herds drifted in on the 
Medicine frcm eastern Colorado, Cheyenne, the northern and west- 
em part of this State, so that a big "round-^up" in Frontier Coun., 
ty waa the result in which one hand red men were looking after 
their interests/' 

Two men by name Lowe and Joe .Ansley got into a dispute. 
Both drew their revolve>is and fired. Ansley, being the quickest, 
killed Lowe, and the next shot killed his horse. Ansley stood' the 
men off, then skipped out. Lowe was buried at Mirtchell's Fork. 

I was depaitized by Sheriff McKnight to capture, -^Ansley. After 
several days' hard riding up on the Platte River, I captured and 
brought him back for trial. Ansley employed E. T. Jay to de- 
fend him. They went before the court, a justice of the peace 
presiding on a charge of murder. The justice put the usual ques- 
tion : 

"Are you guilty or not guilty of the cliarge against you?" 

Ansley answered, "Guilty." 

Lawyer Jay called the prisoner out behind the house and said: 

"You did not understand the reading of the wairrant. You muse 
not say 'guilty'; you must say 'nbt gaiMty.' If you don't you will 
be bound over." 

Ansley said, "I don't like to Me, but if I must I will." 

Then he went before the court and the question of guilty or 
not guilty was again asked. 



18 EA.RLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCt: 

"Not guilty, YoiT Honor," caane the response. 

The judge said: "I discharge the prisoner." 

I returned to him his pistol. He then left for Sidney, oil the 
Platte, minus a horse, saddle and ten dollars that his lawyei kept 
lor his services. 

This decision of the justice may seem to the reader who h'ls 
been educated to believe and obey the high command, "Thou s!ialt 
not kill,'' to usurp, with a heavy hand, the majesty of the law and 
aJlow rapine and murder to go untried and unpunished; but in this 
case the prisoner could prove, by half a hundred witnesses, that he 
shot in self defense, there not being an instant of time between the 
reports of the guns, while it saved a big expense to the county. 



MITCHELL'S FORK 

Stop, stranger; pause and shed a tear 
At this lone mound on Mitclieli's Fork. 
These cottonwoods are sentinels brave, 
And in those willows close by them 
A turtle dove sings requiem; 
WJiile partridges beat their Dooming dirg£ 
Above the old scout's lonely grave 
On Mitchell's Fork. 

Stop, stranger, stop; aow dry your tears 
At this lona mound on Mitchell's Fork. 
There's) more than dust of a scout so brave, 
List to the tale that's buried here. 
Though shrouded by the mist of years. 
How plainly the scene comes back to me 
As we stand bv this lonely grave 
On Mitchell's Fork. 

He came to woo, he loved and lost: 
Ansley was quicker on the draw; 
So Lowe, the scout, lies buried here 
On Mitchell's Fork. 

— Boyd Perkin. 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 19 

Alter the organization of the county, we held an election which 
resulted in the adoption of tree range, thus making this a strictly 
stock county; and it proved a success in tliat line until settlers 
?ame in so fast to cultiivate land that, when the question of 
hei-d law and free-a^nge was again agitated, after a hotly contested 
election in the summer of 1885 the free-range Jaw was repealed. 
This was the death knell of the stock business on the free-range 
plan in this county. The stockmen had to go the same trail the 
buffalos went, with their vast iierds' of cattle and horses. The 
county since then has been rapidly develiopiing in agricultui'e, and 
stands today without peer in southwest Nebraska. 

WOLF'S REST 

The first house I built was upon a high hill, being far from wa- 
ter, and the winds blew so hard that we concluded to camp near 
the timber. Our choice place for a home was under the protect- 
ing branches of a large spreading elm tree. 

When we made this selection from nature's grove, for our 
abode, near by was a large white wolf, dead with a big steel trap 
on his foot, which he had dragged over many a mile of prairie grass 
until he had) become hungry and outworn with life's pilgrimage, had 
quietly lain down like one that is weary and sweetly reposed for- 
ever. We named our home under the elm "Wolf's Rest." After 
some inquiry we found that our only neighbor in Red Willow Coun- 
ty, Storm King, had set a trap at a dead buffalo, caught the wolf, 
which broke the chain and took the trap to Wolf'si Rest. 

Of all happy days, those spent at Wolf's Rest were the best. 
Here we planted our little fields of corn that grew far beyond cur 
expectations. The large old-fashioned coffee mill was nailed to a 
tree (the growth of the tree has almost covered the old mill, but 
it stands as a relic of its former usefulness); with it we ground 
corn into meal and hominy to cook on the old-time fireplace. Here 
we trained the grape-vine to climb the rustic arbor, rested far away 
from the aches of my Southern home and breathed the pure air in 
the darkling wood, in the shadow of the aged elm; here we 
watched stmnge birds build their nests and rear their downy brood 
unmolested, while we drank, of the pure waters- of the Medicine, 
where was not a trace of man's pomp or pride; no brass jewels ?hone; 
no envious eyes to encounter; no hypocrites to make one loathe 
the very name of mankind; but here in the shady nooks, along the 



2n EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCEN-JE 

banks of the Medicine, the wild rose, the modest little violet, seemed 
to look up with perfumed breath, whispenng: "Rest with us." 

SEEKING 

We sink our shining shovel in the soil 

Of far-off, beckoning, glamorous foreign lands, 

Or go to distant beaches, there to toil 

And dig for fan';i':d treasure in the sands. 

Forgetting, or in ignorance, we roam 

Far from the golden treasure of our heme. 

But Providence is kind. Onr fruitless round 
Oft teaches us to till familiar ground. 
Thus findmg gold thoi'ghl !:>r.ried f.ir away, 
We prize our home after wandering many a day. 

--Boyd Perkin 

FIRST DANCE 

Our log cabin at Wolf's Rest was a home for all that camo. 
The first dance in ihe county was here; it took all the ladies in 
Frontier to make up the set. We helped all the newcomers we 
could, to get good creek claims, thinking tlien that the divides were 
not good for anyting but grazing purposes. 

DOCTOR CARVER 

The renowned Doctor W. T. Carver, of glass-ball-shooting fame, 
came to Wolf'is Rest in 1872 and took a ctaim near by. Here it 
was that Dr. Carver learned and practiced the art that made him 
the wonder of the world. Later on his mother came, bringing the 
first fine poultry consisting of pea-fowls, ducks, etc., also a col- 
lection of choice floAversi, and the first piano. 

These were a great curiosity to Indians and frontiersmen. 
In briniring the piano out from the railroad, with some wild bron- 
cho poniies, we got stuck in a sv/iamp and could not get enough 
of them hitched onto the ivagon tio pull it out. So it stood there 
several weeks, covered up with buffalo robes, until the ground b.> 
oame dry; then we brought it down and put it in the lag cabin in 
Msdicine Valley. 

To be a good shot was considered the higaesc accomplishment 
and Dr. W. T. Carver's ambition ran that way; so he did nothing 
but hunt and shoot until he became the greatest siiot in the world.. 



FRONTIKR COUNTY, NEBRASKA 



In writing to me from Vienna, Austria, he said: "I have made 
Medicine Creek famous all over the world — where I am proud to 
have hailed from." 

I helped to plow the first furrow in Red Willow County, " in 
March, 1872. A man by the na!ne of John King hart taken a claim 
below Indianola; he was the only settler in that county then. 
I went over to get a mule I had bought of him. He had a plow in 
the wagon, and we hitched on to plow a few furrows to see how 
it looked. 

We called this man Orazy King, as he would take his team 
and go alone for hundreds of miles, build bridges over streams, pull 
through deep snows and fetch up at our camp evei*y big snow- 
s^torm. Once while King was out on one of hia trips. Indians sur- 
rounded him in camp. He fougfht them several hours, but they 
were too many for him. He was badly wounded, being shot three 
times; yet he got away, though the redskins< took his horses. 

WILD MAN 

In June, 1870. we found a wild man in Frontier County. On 
several occasions we had seen very large barefoot tracks of a hu- 
man being, ranging between the Platte River and the Medi'cine. 
We thought it strange, as we know there was no one in the county 
but those ol our own little neighborhood. As Clifford, Nelson and 
myself were crossing the divide on the way to FoTt McPherson, one 
very warm day after the water had dried up in the lagoons and the 
grass was parched with the intense heat, we saw a man c(>ming 
toward us. We felt like running when he came near enough for 
us to inspect his visage. He was fully six and one-half feet tall, 
withiout shoes and hatless, his U«ad covered with grizzly gray hair, 
and long beard of the same color all over his face so matted with 
dirt that we could scarcely see his eyes. 

Nelson cocked his needle-gun ready to shoot liim if he offered 
violence. He was not hostile, but seemed to be crazy from thirst; 
he took our water jug and draime 1 it, then got on the wagon and 
we took him to Fort McPherson with us , The soldiers oame out to 
see him, though none coulj tell by his language to what nationality 
he belonged, nor where he came from or stayed. 

The fellow ate all we gave him. After eating some canned 
fiuit, he departed in the direction ol Frontier; he earned a heavy 
club with which to defend himself and kill his meat. Nothing more 



1!2 E\KLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCl-} 



was seen of liim for several years. A large skeleton was found 
in a canyon near Moorefield, which we supposed to be the remains 
of the Wild Man, who must have died unwept and alone. 



SWI I THtARI WHO LIVES ON THE PLALNS 

I've a sweetheart that lives 'w.iy out on the plains, 

On the wide-spreading prairie that I love so. 
Oh, how my lonely, yearning heart pains; 

Westward to her my dreams always go. 
Light ever shining in my dark vale, 

Love is singing the sweetest strains; 
Gladly I'll follow on life's long trail 

My sweetheart who lives 'way out on the plains. 

— Doyd Perkin. 

BUFFALO HUNT 

The abundance of buffalo and other game that raajeetically 
loamed over this teiritoiT, 2'id drank of the waters of the Medi- 
cine, attracted men of note from abroad, en a round of pleasure in 
pursoiing the game of the plains. 

Buffalo Bill, Wm. Cody, my old partner, would often bring par- 
ties in, and we had many interesting hunting exploits, which made 
Mr. Cody the most noted buffalo hunter in the world. 

The Russian Duke Alexis, General Sheridan and other noted 
men came in for a share of the hilarious sport of buffalo hunting . 
The duke could not ride over the rough couintrj' fast enough to 
kill a buffalo; he did not want to return to Russia before killing 
one. So Bill Reed ran down a buffalo calf and held it until the 
grand duke came ap and shot it. 

The Indians gave a war-dance for the duke's entertainment, 
for which l^e showed his appreciation by giving them many presents. 
He also gave Buffalo Bill a diaanond pin. A tall flagstaff was 
raised; the American flag was run up to wave in the westein 
breeze. The Indians looked on the flag with great respect and as 
long as it remained there they felt boimd to keeip the peace. 

The Indians got into a fight among themselves and one we called 
Little Billy w-as killed; we buried him near the flagpole. 

Duke Alexis was very dignified, and none but those high in office 
could approach or speak to him. I thought while in Frontier Coun- 
ty I could and had a 'ight to speak genteelly to any person, and 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEfiRASKA 



that no man stood above mo: 3o I went up to Duke Alexis and 
6 aid : 

"How do you do. Duke?" 

He s'aid, "I have not been introduced to you.'' 

I said, "It don't make any difference to me. How do you do, 
Duke?" 

He said to General Siieridan: "General, you are veiy familiar 
with your men." 

General Sheridan said: "By G — . sir, we are Americans." 

In the summer of 1871 a party of us went out on the Mitchell 
to catch some buffalo calves. When we arrived on their ran^e 
there were buffalos as far as the eye could span in every direc- 
tion. We caught three the first dash; and vvhile.^ we were off our 
horses, tying the calves, an immense herd of buffalos came rushing 
along pell-mell. The very earth seemed in a tremor beneath their 
elephantine tread, almost running over me and sendmg a thall of 
fright coursing through our anatomy, which almost paralyzed us anl 
scared our horses so that Dick S'^ymore, Hank ClilTord and Snail's 
horses broke away and went wit'i the rushing:, surging herd toward 
thfi Sunny South, bridled and saddled but riderless. 

John Nelson and myself followed to try and overtake the fugi- 
tives, but they were soon lost to o-n view in the herd of thousands 
of buffalo, though we followed on in hopes of coming up with the 
horses . 

Near the mouth of the Mitchell we found where the buffalos 
had run over a bluff, at one place nearly a hundred leet down to 
the bottom, where stood a large elm tree in which the gentle 
zephyrs had mioancd the evening requiems of solitude, among its 
leafy branches, for many long yejars in the flight of ages, undis- 
turbed. But in the wild rush of the bison of the plains, a huge buf- 
falo was crowded off the perpendicular cliff and lodged in the old 
elm. This was the only time I ever saw a buffalo up a tree. 

We followed the Medicine down to the Republican Rivei , thence 
down that stream fifteen miles, where we came to a little log house 
and stakes stuck up all ove'- the prairie. This we found occupied, 
by two men, a woman and child, ilso a dog. We soon learned the 
parties were Bill Cohin. Geo. Love and family; that was the first 
habitation we had seen, in all the county, outside of our own on 
the Medicine. 

As our horses were tired out, we told them we would camp 



24 EARLY HIST07^Y AND REMINISCHNCE 

with them that ni4;ht. We unsaddled, picketed out our ponies and 
began looking around for some meat for supper. As luck was to 
our hand in that line, a herd of buffalos came along near by. I 
took up my needleugun and s'arted after them, when one of the men 
oaJled to me, saying: 

"We wish you would not kill any of those animals inside t!i« 
town site, as it miglit be hard for us to remove the carcass." 

I a,pologized. .saying, "I did not know that I was in town, but 
grant your request, and would not intentionally violate any city 
ordinance." 

Love said that Captain Murphy had come out fixsm Plattsmouth 
with a colony, staked out a town and named it Arapa'.ice. The 
stakes I thought to be picket pins were the landmarks of the 
lots and street of the new town. This was in the siummer of 187L 
and the county was not organized until 1873, and named Furnas. 

Capti^in Murphy was an ofFxoer in the army «nd experienced 
many hard fights with the Indians over this country. In the sixties 
he had a ranch on the Platte Rivar, at Alcalii^ before the U. P. rail- 
road was built. In 1878 I was married to his daughter, Laura Mur- 
phy, the firsft marriage of white people in the county. 

To return to the chase after the horses: There were so many 
buffalos that they tramped out every track, and trailing them was 
impossible. After days of hard riding we returned without the hors- 
es, which was quite a loss to us. 

LORD DUNRAVEN 

Lord Dunraven and Dr. Kingjley of Ensfland came here on a 
hunting tour and took back, as a souvenir of Ihe trip a buffalo 
head, also tAvo wildcats that I caught for them. I had a collection 
of wild animals that were interesting to many of the "tenderfeet" 
who came along. 

The native cow would raise the buffalo ciaJf, but they did not 
like it. We could not domesticate the! wildcat or turkey; as soon 
as they got loose. They went away. 

One night while out trapping, I ca/miped alone. About midnight 
I heard the step of some wild animal circling; around me. I got 
ray trusty needle-gun ready and waited for him until daylight. A 
Mght snow had fallen and I saw the tracks of a large mountain 
Mon. I do not know why he did not tackle me; perhaps he was 
not hunsry. I haistily bieakfasted on coffee and warmed-over 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 2r. 

beaver meat that I bad cooked tixe evening before, then started on 
the trail of my lordly visitor. 

I knew he was a bad customer; the fresher the i.rail, the more 
shaky and cautious I became. On creeping up a high bluff o\'ei'. 
looking the stream. I saw him breakfasting on a beaver he had 
caught as I had done. I got a broadside view and fired. He dropped 
the beaver and started to climb the bluff after me, when I gave him 
another shot which settled him. He measured nine feet fiom tip to 
lip. 

l^rufessor Ward of Chicago came here to get specimf^ns for his 
museum. I killed ten buffalos, which he took — only the robes and 
bones for mousnting. The Indians called him tlie "bone man." Tlicy 
ihoueht he had a queer taste to take the bones and leave the meat. 

ROPING BUFFALOS 

An English officer came oat iar the purspcse of catching luU- 
growu buffalos to put in a large strong cornal near Niagara Falls, 
and had advertised a wild buffalo hunt. He offered us seven do'. 
'ars a day to catch the buifalos, and good pay to go with him in 
rope at the falls. He brought out heavy freiglit wagons ia whfc'i 
to cart the animals to the U. P. railroad. It had never been 
kncwn that full-grown buffalos could be roped and tied down, but 
we 1 bought we would try it. We made up a party consisting of 
Andy Barret, the roper; Texas Jack; Dashing Charley; Bloody Dick, 
a Texas cowboy;* Chamberlain and myself. 

We went out on the Beaver before we came to the main herd 
of buffalos; we then got cur lariais in readiness and got as near 
rhem as- possible, to gave our ho;se&, for we knew there was »i 
hard ran before us. The game w,is in a draw one hundred yards 
away when they scented us and started on the run at breakne(;ic 
speed. We had paired off, Andy and I together. When the herd 
reached the divide it was three hundred yards in advance of us. 
We urged our horses and gradually gained on them, while the ground 
almost trembled beneath the pile-driver tramp. The horns of the 
bisons rattled together, and all went in one solid black wave t*^a': 
swept on and on across broad divides, through canjoms and ovor 
hills, stopping for nothing, at a wild and awful rush. 

We at last got a chance and cut out a fine large bulTalo to 
cne side. An instant afterward Andy's lariat went through the air 
like a serpent and curled itself around its victim's neck; the other 



1^6 KARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 

end was fastened to the saddle horn. I made a lucky throw and 
got my rope on the anina'al. loo. We could not stop suddenly, but 
had to keep on the run in order to choke him down gradually, 
our horses holding back all they could. When we got him stopped, 
.\nd,y went on one side and I on the other, to prevent him froiTii 
getting at us until help came, as he did not give up his freedom 
peaiea.bly. Then a rope was thrown around his feet; he was brought 
to the ground, then tied down and left until our return after hiiu . 

In this way we caught and tied five, TexaiS Jack and his party 
caught three; eight in all. We decided to load them in the freight 
wagons and take them to the U. P. railroad; but when we got 
around to them, they were about all dead, owing to the hot 
weather and their disposition not to give up their struggle fcvr lib- 
erty. So -we succeeded in getting only one alive to Wolfs Rest, 
and he like his companions did not give up but dded while trying; 
to free himself. Thu? ended the scheme of capturing wild buffalos 
for the show at Niagara Falls. 

Two of our horses died from heat and overwork, while some 
of our men got terrible falls. Texas Jack said, "They swapped 
ends." There has been a great deal said about shooting buffalos, 
but the world's history does not record the fact that any party ever 
roped and tied down full-grown wild buffalos, as we did in the 
f-umaner of 1872. 

Medicme Valley was the dividing line, north and south, in the 
hunting grounds of the two great Indian tribes, the Pawnees on tho 
east and Sioux on the west. Thj buffalos having aill gone west of 
this lire, the Pawnees would occa^sionally steal aorosis on a hunt. 
The death knelj.of rjisaster swept over the Pawnejis in the summer 
of 1873; they made a raid in Sioux territory and killed a number 
of buffalo?. The squaws, in high gilee and happy, were busy cutting 
the meat in thin slices to dry, ready to take back with them, when 
iheir hated enemiy, the Sioux, came doAvn on them, in a canyon 
where they were at work, with a savage wiar-whoop. 

The- Pawnees were sunounled and after a hard fight the Sioux 
won the victory. They showed no quarter to their victims, who left 
many squaws and braves to moulder away with the buffalos they 
had slain. This "was the last fight between the contending tribes in 
this part of the country; the Pawnee were so completely whipped 
that theiy feared the Sioux. The bones of the "■poor Indians" wero 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 27 

picked up with animal bones anl shipped East to be ground into 
lertilizer to enrich tlie worn soil. 

HUNT NEAR MAYWOOD 

An interesting hunt took place on the Medicine near where the 
town of Maywood now is. My sifter, Mrs. D. C. Ballentine, hon- 
ored us with her company. She said: 

"I will try the difficult feat of shooting elk and buffalo from 
horseback while at full Sipeed." 

There are but few men able to ride a horse on the run over 
rough country, and shoot with any Oiccuracy. It took a speedy 
horse to oatch a buffalo. I had one that was. trained in the cha^e 
ui>on which Mrs. Ballentine was mounted. We sent out a scout to 
locate the buffalo. After a long ride in the direction he had tal:. 
en, we saw him about a mile away, riding in a circle, t!ie Indian 
jign he had found them. 

We approached him cautiously and a large herd was seen coming 
up from the creek, whoie they had been to A\Hter. The saddle 
girths were tightened, iruns got in readiness; but not ^nv too ?oon 
for they had scented usi Then away thay went, with heads and 
tails in the air, for the hills. Soon half a dozen of us \%erc> strung 
cut, the fleetest horses in the lead. As we neared the lumbeiing, 
awkward-looking monsters, they b^ffan to gain in speed until it was 
like a whirlwind, increajsing all the while. 

Mrs. Ballentine's horse took her aJlong side the herd, on a level 
run, when she began to shoot, not ten feet away from them. Three 
of the party were left far behind. The buffalos finally went over a 
bluff, rolling like balls, v/ith the exception of seven dead and 
wounded along the trail, Mrs. Ballentine having killed two an,i 
wounded several others. Ihis is the first and only case v/here a 
woman was ever known to have killed buffalos from horseback 
while on the run. 



•^s 



EARLY HISTORY AND REAflNlSCENCE 






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"JLST LIKl- niF Mf.N" 

To day I'll tell you of a hunt 
That happened back in seventy-three. 
Now over seventy years ago. 
Said Mrs. D. C. Ballentine: 
"I'll go and try the hardy feat 
Of riding at full speed, 
And rihooting buffaloes and antelopes 
Just like the men." 



The modern girl would smile to hear 
You mention ridmg a horse that fast, 
lor that's che way ill girls go now: 
Quite recklessly, full speed ahead. 
1.1, t still, I think Lhe modern girl 
NX'ould get a thrill if she could ride 
And shoot some antelopes and buffaloes 
Just like the men. 

— Bovd Perkin. 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NlCBRASJvA 29 

FIRST PREACHER 

The first preachor in tae county came in 1870. Miles and Clil'- 
lord were trapping and poisoninjj wolves. One day when we went 
to our wolf baits we found a man alniost dead near where he had 
roasted some of the poisoned meat. We isiaw at omce that some- 
thing must be done for him quick. We put him o.n a horse an.l 
took him into camp on tne Muddy. We forced grease, whiskey an-i 
everything we could get dov/n him After a great deal of work with 
him, he was relieved from the effect of the poison; land when oo:i- 
scious, ho looked around with astonishment on the Indians and long, 
haired men mth buckskin suits on. He thought he wais a subject 
for a war-dance or a sealping-bee . AVe told him he was with frienils 
and that he would not be hurt, lie said that he had come out with 
a hunting party from away down East, got lost. 

"I was almost starved when I found the poisoned meat. I 
am a preacher and will piay for you as long as I live, in return 
for the favors and kindness you have shown me." 

One of our men took him back to liis camp, and the party 
returned hojne, saying: 

"We do not like buffalo hunting very well." 

THE LAST WILD BUFFALO HUNT 
IN FRONTIER COUNTY 

O the long and dreary Winter! 
O the cold and cruel Winter! 
Ever thicker, thicker, thicker 
Froze the ice on lake and river. 
Ever deeper, deeper, deeper 
Fell the snow o'er all the landscape, 
Fell the covering snow and drifted 
Through the forest, round the village. 
Hardly from his buried wigwam 
Could the hunter force a passage. 

— Longfellow. 

The \\ inter of 1871 ."^ind '72 i? long to be remembered. 

The "chuck pile" had run low in oul- little village and th.; 
papoosesi began to have a far.oiT look in their eyes for siomethin.^ 
to eat. So it was time for the nimrods to start out and win. Hank 
Clifford, John Nelson and myself, whites. Crooked Nose, Bobtail 
Horse, Big Elk and Long Man, 'ndians, decided to follow the buffalo 



:iO EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 

and eJk tc their secret haunts. Guns, cartridge belts, bows ani 
airows, knives, etc., were put in readiness; and at sunrise the ne.xt 
morning, we started o'er the dessrt Avaste ot patlilei-:s snow-field.s, 
not a bird or beast to )ure us on, or incite our drooping spiritrf. 
The sun's last rays were fading on the far-away western hills before 
he had shov,^n how near the day was dene. 

We then saw a lone leafless ti'ee, to which we went, broke off 
Ihe tending boughs and built a re. Around this the braves of 
Frontier County sat, cold, ti'ed, discouraged. The earth seemed tarn- 
ished while the stars of heaven glared like the eyes of hungry 
wolves on us, as we slept in the snow by the dying embers of tb-B 
last camp-fire shared by red men of the plains, in this county, -jn 
a buffalo hunt. 

As soon as the long cold ai.;ht had worn away we started on 
to get breakfast. The Indians "put out on a trot,'- and I followed 
as I warned to be at the fiist table. After a )un of about ten 
miles, most of the party had di'OP[?ed out. and Crooked Nosp was 
in the lead. Suddenly he stopped and crouched down. I did the 
same but saw nothing. He pointed off to the south. There stood 
a lone buffalo, the last one of thB numerous thousands t)f thes»; 
poble animals that had roamed o''"er our county, drunk of the rift- 
pling waters ot the Medicine an^ lain beneath the leafy branclies 
of the foresjt trees, to rest at noontide unmolested 

After crawling in the snow f Jr an hour, Mr. Indian got within 
fifty yards of the buffalo and shot him through the heart. The 
lonely bison made a leaip in the air and fell dead. It was getting 
late and we had had nothing to e&t since the day before. We cut 
Ihe meat off the bones "inti. broke them over his horns to get the 
marroav, then cut out the \i\eT and ate it with the marrow v'or 
butter. 

This buffalo was the rear juard of the main herd that was 
leaving the counti-y and their old haunts in Frontier, for the South. 
'J'hey left a beaten trail where thousainds had gone before. The In- 
dians soon left for Spotted Tail reservation, on the White Eart^i 
River to the nortit. Here the Indian and buffalo, which had existed 
together for ages, separated. They fled toward the setting sua, 
before the invincible march of the paleface, whose great works will 
crumble beneath the weight and mst of time and they too, will 
leave but the mounds of their existence, as other builders of cen. 
luries past, without a ripple in the stream of time. 



FKONTlEPv ("(.UNTV NEERASKA 



31 






Wc^ -^•K^- ^ci«i:^ >rt[»2 



LAST BUFFALO HUNT 

We sat from all tjhe world apart. 

Above, fron-i heaven, oright stars glared; 

Like eyes of hungry wolves they siared. 

Our camp-fires embers cast their glow 

Of lurid red upon the snow. 

A redskin pointed toward the south. 

There stood one lonely buffalo 

Beyond the winding canyon's mouth; 

And Crooked Nose shot through the heart 

The last of lordly brutes to go. 



-Boyd Perkin. 



:i2 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 



) ii 1) ii il il ii i^ ii ^i ii ii il 










sS 



sS 
^ 



^ 
sS 



WARRIOR 

Wnere is that Indian bravo 

Who used to stand on that high knoll ? 

Where are the mighty herds ot rusihing bison 

Galloping over the land 

Like restless, bounding billows of the sea, 

Swept onward by the raging prairie fire? 



No more on purple wings 
4^^^ Ihe siignal fire flashes its message across these lands. 

The enemy has come, 

With bow unstrung, the warrior, a crumbling statue. 
Stands beside a mound adorned with bison rkulls — 
Alone, unwept, unhonored and unsung. 



-Boyd Perkin. 



FllOiNTTIER COTTNTY NEbRASKA 



THE LAST INDIAN RAID IN THE COUNTY 

111 1878 the Sioux Indians ran away from the reservatiou ,n 
Indian Territory and started baclc to northern Nebraska, theii- 
former hunting grounds. Theiy whipped the soldiers, then killed 
and pillaged everything in their path. The commanding officer at 
Fort MePherson sent me notice, by a soldier, for everybody to rua 
for tHeir lives, as the soldiers could not protect the settlers. I'ho 
settlers, genemlly, went to Cambridge, Furnas County, and built a 
lort. 

I did not like to leave our little home and lose all we had; so 
1 went over end saw D. C. Bailentine, and we decided ti.' go in 
a cave on my ranch. This cave isi ten by fifteen feet, under a bluff 
fifty feet high. The Medicine Creek runs within a few feet of the 
mouth. Tins we fortified, took in a cnmp outfit and provisions 
for a siege. Dave Bailentine took in his wife and child. Miss 
Mamie Timimons and I assisted my mother, and all went in the 
cave, from which we stood the bloodthirsty savages off, and they 
failed to get us out of the cave 

Frontier County stands unrivaled in her noted pioneers, her 
brave, honest, intelligent men and women that oame and built 
themselves pleasant homes within her borders, who ran the financial 
affairs in an economical and efRcient manner so that no man grew 
opulent while holding office. 

In 1879 one Enos Furgeson was the only candidate for sheriff. 
He was elected <and thought t'lere was big money in the office, 
besides the honor of being "high siheriff." But he soon found out 
that Frontier County did not support anyone in idleness; so lie 
gave up the position and left. 

MURDER 

The people of this county can boast of the fact that no county 
in the State has been the abode of fewer desperadoes, and less 
crime, than Fioutier. TAventy-tv\ o years have siwung out, on the 
pendulum of time, since the county was organized, and but one 
murder has been committed within the boundaiies, by a settler, 
to blacken a page of its history that otherwise rebounds to our hon- 
or. 

The atrocious crime was perpetrated in the winter of 18S.5 
Eugene Sherwood, a young man about twenty years old, lived with 
his widowed mother on the Medicine Crook, eight miles east of 
8tockville. Joining them was an ojd Swede, a bachelor, Jonas Nel- 



M EARTHY HISTORY AND REMlNlSCENCi: 

son by name, who had been co^'imitting some depredations such 
as burning hay^tacksi, etc. — a man of generaly bad repute. 

Some trouble arose between Siler^vood and Nelson over a boun- 
dary line. Nothing eerious was thought of the affair by young Sher- 
wood. But Nelson bought a gu . and pistol, then concealed him- 
self behind a tree; and as ShervVJod was driving his cows homo, 
he came Avithin a few feet of me tree. Nelson shot him dead. 
Eugene Sherwood was found scon afterward by a \\ oodchoipper 
who happened to be passing along. 

I was sheriff at the time; and 'being notified, I found Sherwood 
where he had fallen There bein? no coroner in the county, I im- 
I'aneled a jui-y and upon investigation the verdict was that "Eugene 
Shenvood came to bis death by a shotgun wound in the hands of 
Jonas N'elson." 

I found him at a cattle ranch a few miles away and took him 
into custody, tie was arraigned before Judge W. H. Allen and bound 
over to court. 

I started to take him to jail i i North Platte, as we have had 
so little use for a jail in this county we have not as yet built 
one It was vei-y cold and the snow deep; we did not get along 
fast. WheH night came on, we shopped at a cattle ranch. Ther»9 
being no one at the ranch, we went in land madie ourselves at 
Iiome, got supper. Dave Love was with me to help guard the 
prisoner. ' 

At aboait ten o'clock there was a rush on us of masked men 
who took Nflson out in ihe night, back through the drifting snow. 
As we could do nothing we waited until morning, then followed 
their trail to the woods; and tbore, from a limb of the tree from 
which Sherwood was killed. huuT Nelson. 

I held an inquest and the vedict was that Nelson came (o 
his death by unknown parties. Thus ended the career of the first 
murderer in Frontier (^Jounty. Nelson was buried under the tree 
he had desecrated 

ANECDOTES 

A tendf^rfoot who came into Eiontier said, "I would like to live 
in this county; but I miss society, churches, hotels, etc." He said 
that he could not do without milk and butter. 

One of the boyS' said, "We can get all the butter you 
want." 

He said, "Where?" 

Cowboy said, "We will all take turns milking: strap the churn 



rUuNTiriR UCaiNTY, Ni^BKASKa 36 

to the saddl*^ and go uritil we find a herd of buffalo, elk. deer or 
antelope, pick out a good milker, und milk them whiio on the run, 
from horseback. When t'lrough, the jumping of the horse will churn 
all the butter out of the milk." 

Tenderfoot said, "That beats the way they milked back in YorJc 
State." 

Judge Gaslin presided at the first tenn of district court in 
this county. He sent Sheriff Mil05 out to call in Henry l.agering and 
tell him if he did not come into court he would be a defaulter. T'i<3 
sheriff, net knowing the court lingo, went out an-d said: 

"You, Dagering, come right into court, or you will be defraud- 
ed." 

The Judge siaid, "No, no, sheriff. Say 'a deiaultei.' Now, sher- 
iff, call Euphemia Dagering." 

The sheiiff again went and cilled: 'You feuuvle Dagering, ccme 
into court or yoa will be defrauded." 

The judge said, 'TJie country is new and you will loain in 
time." 

THE FIRST EATING HOUSE 

Miles Giiland opened up the first eating house and it was the 
only place "chuck" was to be had during court week. All the dude 
lawyers rushed in to get first seats. The Western sheriff, not be- 
ing accustomed to such impoliteness, pulled a six-shootPi and 
told them to step back and give white folks a chance to eat; anl 
theni did, too. 

In the early days of Frontier County, the people politically 
were like the fellow who got lost: he knew no north, no south, 
east or west. We knew no pai% lines and in our eilections the 
contest was between men, not parties. 

In a convention at Stockville, in the year of 1881. the fight v,as 
on sheriff, between J. A. Lynch and W. H. Miles. As the political 
strength of the candidates was balancing in the minds of the peo- 
ple, Mr. Shelley, one of Lynch's men, went down to Calahan's for a 
drink. While he was gone the balance tilted in favor of Miles, 
who received the nomination and was elected. 

In the spring oif 1883 thi.s county met \\ith a loss that is im- 
possible to repair. Tliat was the early records, which, as historical 
relics, were valuable souvenirs of the county — besides the actual 
financial loss by the burning of the court-house. A larger and more 
commodious county capitol waa soon built and r«supplied with ne\v 



o6 EARLY HiSTOUY ANlJ REMINISCENCE 

record books and furniture in keeping with the develoipment of 
our adopted county. 

Party lines were not d!av/n in ooir county government until 
1885, thirteen years after our organization. Then tlfe Republican 
and Farmers' parties set forth their principles in conventions ani 
nominated their candidates. T'le Republicans, being in the majority, 
elected W. H. Allen lor judge; John Sanders, treasurer; Geo. 
Kelly, clerk; and E. W. Franklin, sheiiff. Since then the Demo- 
cratic, Independent and Republican parties have been represented 
in the offices of the county, sihowing that our people will support 
principles and men more than party. 

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF FRONTIER COUNTY 

By A Subscriber 

The history of the development of any countiy will shov,- that 
its growth and prosperity l?ave not been realized at a slngje bound, 
but year by year a little has been achieved. New resources have 
been discovered and developed, obstacle after obstacle has been met 
and overcome. Experiments have proven what kind of crops >o 
sow, when is the proper time to sow, and what kind of cultivation 
is best suited to the soil and climate. Until these have been decid. 
ed, a county must be comisideired In an experimental slate. 

The history of agriculture in this county dates much later 
than the organization. In 1883 the writer, in answer to a letter of 
Inquiry concerning this county, received from Westgate, then county 
clerk, the following: 

"Leon't come to this county with a view to farming — a 

farmer would starve here. This is a good county in which 

to raise cattle." 

Tra,velmg over a large portion of the county in the fall of that 
year, I found that the settlers here were of the same opinion. No 
land was broken, no crops vvere planted, more than garden. patcties. 
All the talk was sheep, horses and cattle. All seemed to think 
ihat in this county this was the only means by which a living 
could be made. In proof of which, through the kiudnesis of our 
county olhcers I have been able to submit to you these factsi taken 
from the assessors' books of tiiut year: 

Number of taxpayers in the year 1883 was 331. 

Valuation of personal property ?275,714 . 50 

Valuation of real estate 24,773 . 50 

Total $300,488.00 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 37 

This assessment was made on a 25 per cent of cash value and 
shows that on an avei\age each taxpayer would be rated at 13,450.00 
on personal property, and about $c.20.00 each on real estate. 

At this period the ranj^e had all the stock it could support. 
for it was depended on for both summer and winter. In IS84 
there Avere three hundred forty- five children of f-ichool age, fourteen 
schools, seven teachers and four schoolhouses. In the autumn of 
1883 the happj days of the stockmen began to wane. A new era 
began to dawn in Frontier County, and with the balmy springtime 
of 18.S'} came, grangers of all raoes and previous conditions. They 
came in all conceivable conveyances, by ones and twos and in 
large flocks. They brought with them cows, pigs, farming imple- 
.ments, and their merry, joyous children, to help subdue the soil, 
to fill our schools and become useful citizens to our county ani 
State. The granger had corue to stay— God had made this land for 
him. Uncle Sam said he could have it, in 160-iaicre lots; and in 
the sumimer of 1885. when free range and herd law were voted for, 
by his vote he placed his seal on this county, making it henceforth 
an agricultural county. 

Ho who has purhto. out on ihe frontier, and has reclaimed tho 
wilderness or the desert, has added to his county, his State, and 
his nation's wealth. Ho has also helped fill the world's storehouse 
with provisions, from the abundance of which its stai'ving millions 
could be fed. The hope of the agricultural element of this cou'itv 
has been more than realized during the last decade. True, there 
have been two paitial fiiiiures in crops; but in the remiaining 
eight yeans we have raise 1 such crops that, tciking The '.en years 
on an average, we would be able to compete with any county in the 
State, on .in acreage yield. 

The soil of Frontier County is deep and exceedingly rich. Wheat, 
corn, oats, barley, flax and potatoes, in fact all the principal crops, 
grow here and make a large yield. Receiving such large crops has 
caused our farmers to becomd recKless about the preparation of the 
land and the care of the crop. I will make out a bill of expense 
showing the amount of labor required by the average faruier for 
seeding eighteen acres to spring wlieat: sowing, one-half day, man 
and team; cultivating, three days; dragging, one day. We have 
seen land that received about this amount of work yield from 
twenty to thirty bushels of whe.xt per acre 

'J'he following is about a fair sample of planting and cultivat- 
ing seven acres oY corn: one day's listing, two days' cultivating; 
giving two and one-third acres of corn ready for shucking, for one 



38 EARLY HISTORY AND Rc'.MINISCENCE 

clay's work for a man and a team. We have seen a field that had 
received just this, and no more, yield sixty.three bushels of corn 
per acre. This was an exceptional crop, and probably twenty 
bushels albove the average of that year. 

The above were given to show how large a crop can be grown 
in good seasons with a very small outlay of labor. 

^ We believe that Nebraska is destined to outstrip its neii^hbor- 
ing States, owing to its diversity o\ resources in agricultuie. The 
sugar-beet industry, with or without legislative aid, will sooner or 
later become a leading industry oi the State. The soil seems espe- 
cially rich in those elements necessary for the growth of the su- 
gar beet; and beets grown in this State Hav ; been tesied, both 
in thi;^ country and in '.Jennany, ;ind have shown th.it Nebraska 
can produce beets as rich in saccharine matr.ei- as any country on 
the globe. In 1891 the State Aj'iicultural Society offered a pre- 
mium of $90.00 for the greatest number of tons of beets, showin.; 
I he largest per cent of sugar, grown on one-fourth of an acre. Mrs. 
J. W. Gates of this oounfcy received the award. 

Alfalfa is another crop th^it is rapidly gaining in favor in 
llii? ct.unty. It seems to be the forage plant we have so long need- 
ed — capable to stand drourh. The number of crops cut from it 
yearly, the largest 3ield per acre, and the excellent quality of 
the hay, bespeak for it a place on eveiy farm in the county. East 
of us cattlemen fat their cattle on corn, west of us cattle are 
fatted on alfalfa hay. The feeders of this county will soon be able 
to fat their cattle on corn and alfalfa hay, both grown in the 
county. Shall we not then be able to compete with any locality 
en cheaply fed stock? 

BUILDING RAILROAD 

In the years of 1886 and 'S7. the Holdrege BrHUch of the B. 
& M. built a railroad through this county. This was a great stimu- 
lus to the agiricultural development of the county, ^ery faa-mer 
near the line of the road could seU corn, hay and surplus provi- 
sions at good prices Corn sold readily at forty cents per bushel, 
end everything else in proportion. 

W^e, who had been going forty miles to trade and taking three 
days to make a trip, thought thep and still think that the railroaJ 
was one of the greatest blessings that ever came to the county. 
It brought to the farmer merchandise, and laid it almost at his door 
as cheaply as he before could purchase it forty miles away. It 
placed farm implements in eas<y reach; it enhanced Ihe value of 



FRONT! KR COUNTY. NEBRASKA 39 

all the land several dollars per acre; it built up four fiourishin-j 
towns, viz., Eustis, Moorefield, Curtis and Maywood; and best of all 
to the farmer, it made an outlet for his fat stock in Omaha, in 
a few hours after it left his pens 

From G W. Crosby, general freight agent at Omaha, fwe leiarii 
that in 1892 there were shipped fr^^m Frontier County 1469 cars of 
grain and 258 cars of live stock; in 1893 841 cars of grain aijd 388 
cars of live stock. In considering these numbers, we must remem- 
ber that our county is new, that much of the land is unused eithf;r 
for grazing or agricultural purposes. All over this county you may 
see ten-acre lots of young timber; these are not only an ornament 
to our already beautiful landscape, but will soon furnish a supply 
of timber and help increase the rainfall of our county. Far-seeing 
was the legislature that passed the Timber Culture Act, foi men 
planted to secure the patent to their lands, who v/ould not have 
planted for ornament or usefulness. 

During the short period that has elapsed since our county has 
become an agricultural one, it has made about as much advance- 
ment as could be expected undei all the condtiions and difhculties 
with which it has had to contend. Below v/ill be given the record 
of 1893: 

Personal property valuation f 310,275 . 00 

Real estate 921,386.00 

Town property , 53,806.00 

RaHroad property 122.094 . 00 

'l\>tal 11.407,571.00 

Taxes raised ... $ 64,656.35 

By comparison we find the valuation of property in 1893 was four 
and one-half times the valuatii>n of 1883 and that the number of 
polls was more than Siix times as great. We now have 108 schocl 
districts, 115 schocls, 3328 children of school age, sevety-two fi-ame 
schoolhousos. three log and twenty^seven sod buildings Oirr 

teachers now number 120. The valuation of -our district property is 
$42,616.68, which is ten times as much as in 1884. Seeing wh:it 
progress we have made in the past, and knowin:^ the enterprising 
spirit of our citizens, what could we predict for Frontier County 
but a glorious future? 

The forty-niner, as he slowl/ wended his way across these 
plains, never dreamed they would become great centers of civiliz.x- 



40 EARLY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCK 

lion. But the pioneers came in from the crowded East, subdued the 
soU; the railroads attacked the wilderness; towns and cities which 
Ihe mirage had prefigured have become an accomplished fact. The 
mihions ol buffaloes that sometimes impeded the movement of trains 
have been replaced by tens of thousands of graded cattle, while the 
unexampled yield of the products of the soil of the Wild West is 
fast becoming the granai^y of the United States. 

The great achievements of Frontier Countij- have not, like Alad. 
din's palace, been accomplished at a wish or by magic wave of 
the mystic wand, but by sturdy, earnest and laborious toil. We 
therefore cherish a deeip and growing pride in the history and prog, 
ress, socially and financially, of our county. 

Finis 



SUNSET 

When sunset sheds its molten mellow rays 
Of hquid gold spillinfr upon the plain, 
Flowing from crimson fountains in the sky. 
The heart is filled with laptu.'-e; if we sigh 
At man's failure to me.isure Heaven's days 
In recompense, more earnestly we gaze, 
Then with tiue vi'>ion paradise regain. 
And strength to grasp anew the higher ways 
(^f God's creation, and the me.ining of: 
"The word was spoken and His will was done. 
Though man vainly searches for i source 
And ending, looks for heaven high above, 
Yet Truth and Life and Love are alwaysi one. 
As timeless as the £;reat Creative Force. 



— Boyd PerkiRi. 



FRONTIER COUNTY, NEBRASKA 37 

This assessment was made on a 25 per cent of cas'i value and 
shows that on an average each taxpayer would he rated at 13,450.00 
on personal property, and about ??20.00 each on real estate. 

At this period the ranj^e had all the stock it could support, 
for it was depended on for both summer and winter. In 1S84 
there Avere three hundred forty -five children of school age, fourteen 
schools, seven teachers and four schoolhouses. In the autumn of 
1883 the happy days of the stockmen began to wane. A new era 
began to dawn in Frontier County, and with the balmy springtime 
of 18.S'1 came grangers of all rases and previous conditions. They 
came in all conceivable conveyances, by ones and twos an^ )n 
large flocks. They brought with ihem cows, pigs, farming impU;- 
ments, and their merry, joyous children, to help subdue the soil, 
to fill our schools and become useful citizens to our county an^l 
State. The granger had come to staj^ — God had made this laud for 
him. Uncle Sam said he could have it, in 160-taicre lots; and in 
the sUimmer of 1885. when free range and herd law were voted for, 
by his vote he placed his seal on this county, making it henceforth 
an agricultural county. 

He who has pushed out on Lhe frontier, and has reclaimed the 
wilderness or the desert, has added to his county, his State, and 
his nation's wealth. Jio has also helped fill the world's storehouse 
with provisions, from the abundance of which its stai'ving millions 
could be fed. The hope of the agricultural element of this county- 
has been more than realized during the last decade. True, there 
have been two partial fiiihires in crops; but in the remaining 
eight years we have raise 1 such ciops that, taking rhe '.en years 
on an average, we would be able to compete with any county in the 
State, on an acreage yield. 

The soil of Frontier County is deep and exceedingly rich. Wheat, 
corn, oats, barley, flax and potatoes, in fact all the principal crops, 
grow here and make a large yield. Receiving such large crops has 
caused our farmers to becomd recidess about the preparation of the 
land and the care ov the crop. I will make out a bill of expense 
showing the amount of labor required by the average fanner for 
seeding eighteen acres to spring wheat: sowing, one-half day, man 
and team; cultivating, three days; dragging, one day. We have 
seen laud that received about this amount of work yield from 
twenty to thirty bushels of wheal per acre 

'J"he following is about a fair sample of planting and cultivat- 
ing seven acres or corn: one day's listings two days' cultivating; 
giving two and one-third acres of corn ready for shucking, for one 



EARLY HISrOUY AND R<?MINISCENCE 



day's work for a man and a team. We have seen a field that had 
received just this, and no more, yield sixty-three bushels of corn 
per acre. This was an exceptional crop, and probably twenty 
bushels aibove the average of that year. 

The above were given to show how large a crop can be grown 
in good seasons with a very small outlay of labor. 

We believe that Nebra*ka is destined to outstrip its neighbor- 
ing States, owing to its diversity o\ resources in agriculture. The 
sugar-beet industry, with or without legislative aid, will sooner or 
later become a leading industry of the State. The soil seems espe- 
cially rich in those elements necessary for the growth of the su- 
gar beet; a.iid beets grown in this State laan been tf^sted, both 
in ihi:! ooimtry and in '.Jermany, ;ind have shown th.it Nebraska 
can produce beets as rich in pacchanne matter as any country on 
the globe. In 1891 the State .\f';;culiural Society offered a pr.-- 
miura of ?90.00 for the greatest number of tons of beets, showing 
iho largest per cent of sugar, grown on one-fourth of an acre. Mi>5. 
J. W. Gates of this county received the award. 

Alfalfa is another crop that is rapidly gaining in favor in 
tlii? C(.unty. It seems to be the forage plant we have so long need- 
ed — capable to stand drouih. The number of crops cut from it 
yearly, the largest yield per acre, and the 'excellent quality of 
the hay, bespeak for it a place on every farm in the county. East 
of us cattlemen fat their cattle on corn. West of us cattle are 
fatted on alfalfa hay. The feeders of this county will soon be able 
to fat their cattle on corn and alfalfa hay, both grovm in the 
county. Shall we not then be able to compete with any locality 
en cheaply fed stock? 

BUILDING RAILROAD 

In the years of 1886 and 'S7. the Holdrege Branch of the B. 
& M. built a raili-ioad through this county. This was a great stimu- 
lus to the agulcultural dev-jlopment of the county. Every farmer 
near the line of the road could sell corn, hay and surplus provi- 
sions at good prices Corn f-old readily at forty cents per bushel, 
end everything else in proportion. 

We, who had been going forty miles to trade and taking three 
days to make a trip, thought then and still think that the railroaJ 
was one of the greatest blessings that ever came to the county. 
It brought to the farmer merchandise, and laid it almost at his door 
as cheaply as he before could purchase it forty miles away. It 
placed farm implements in eas-y reach; it enhanced the A-alue of 



FRONTIER COUNTY. NEBRASK^V 39 

all the land several dollars per acre; it built up four flourishinT^ 
towns, viz., Eustis, Moorefield, Curtis and Maywood; and best of ail 
to the farmer, it inade an outlet for his fat stock in Omaha, in 
a few hours after it left his pens 

From G W. Crosby, general freight agent at Omaha, f\ve leai-:i 
that in 1892 there were shipped from Frontier County 1469 cars of 
grain and 258 cars of live stocii; in 1893 841 ca.rs of grain ai/d oS8 
cars of live stock. In considering these numbers, we must remem- 
ber that our county is new, that much of the land is unused either 
for grazing or agricultural purposes. All over this county you may 
see ten-acre lots of young timber; these are not only an ornament 
to our already beautiful landscape, but will soon furnish a supply 
of timber and help increase the rainfall of our county. Far-seeing 
was the legislature that passed the Timber Culture Act, foi m.en 
planted to secure the patent to their lands, who v,-aukl not have 
planted tor ornament or usefulness. 

During the short period that has elapsed since our county has 
become an agricultural one, it has made about as much advance- 
ment as could bo expected undei all the condtiions and dinioulties 
with which it has had to contend. Below vnll be given the record 
of 1893: 

Personal property valuation $ 310,275 .00 

Real estate 921,386 . 00 

Town property 53.808.00 

Railroad property 122.094.00 

Total ?1,407,571.00 

Taxes raised ... $ 64,656.35 

By comparison v.e find the valuation of property in 1893 was four 
and one-half times the valuati^m of 1883 and that the number of 
polls was more than six times as great. We now have 108 school 
districts, 115 schools, 3328 children of school age. sevety-two frame 
schoolhouses. three log and twenty-seven sod buildings Our 

teachers now number 120. The valuation of our district property is 
$42,616.68, which is ten times as much as in 1884. Seeing wh.it 
progress we have made in the past, and knowing; the enrerprlt:ing 
spirit of our citizens, what could we predict for Frontier County 
but a glorious future? 

The forty-riner, as he slowl/ wended his way across these 
plains, never dreamed they would become great centers of civiliz.i- 



40 EARLY HIST CRY AND REMINISCENCE 

lion. But the pioneers came in from the crowded East, subdued the 
aofl; the railroads attacked the wilderness; towns and cities which 
the mirage had prefigured have become an accomplished fact. The 
milJions otf buffaloes that sometimes impeded the movement of trains 
have been replaced by tens of thousands of graded cattle, while tho 
unexamipled yield of the products ol the soil of the Wild West is 
fast becoming the granary of the United States. 

The great achievements of I'^'rontier County have not, like Alad. 
din's palace, been accomplished at a wish or by magic wave of 
the mystic wand, but by sturdy, earnest and laborious toil. We 
therefore cherish a deeip and growing pride in the history and piog. 
ress, socially and financially, of our county. 

Finis 



SUNSET 

When sunset sheds its molten mellow rays 
Of hcjuid gold spilling upon the plain, 
Flowing from crimson fountains in the sky. 
The heart is filled with lapture; if we sigh 
At man's failure to measure Heaven's days 
In recompense, more earnestly we gaze. 
Then with tiue vi-)ion paradise regain, 
And strength to grasp anew the higher ways 
(>f God's creation, and the meaning of: 
"The word was spoken and His will was dene.' 
Though man vainly searches for i source 
And ending, iooks for heaven high above, 
Yet Truth and Life and Love are alwaysi one. 
As timeless as the great Creative Force. 



-Boyd Perkin.. 




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